Lansdale police searching for tenant who threatened homeowner

LANSDALE — Police are looking for a man with ties to Boyertown who attacked his landlord in Lansdale.

William Keith Kane, 23, of the 400 block of Franklin Street in Lansdale, is wanted for allegedly threatening his landlord after he was told he was behind in his rent.

According to a press release from the Lansdale Police Department, Kane was living in the homeowner’s basement since December. On March 8, the homeowner told Kane he was behind on his rent and had broken some house rules.

Kane then allegedly “grabbed a knife and raised it up in a striking fashion while walking toward” the homeowner, according to a press release from Lansdale Police. “Kane allegedly began screaming he wasn’t going to pay the homeowner and that he was going to kill him.”

The homeowner attempted to wrestle the knife away from Kane, getting a cut on his hand in the process, police said. The homeowner ran upstairs and locked the door to the basement area.

The next day, the homeowner demanded Kane return his house key, but Kane allegedly refused and “picked up a tire iron and once again threatened to kill the homeowner, who retreated back inside the residence and called police,” according to the press release. Kane fled the area. He faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment among other charges. A felony warrant was issued for his arrest.

Police said Kane could be in the Boyertown area, but that information was unconfirmed.

Anyone who knows Kane’s whereabouts should contact the Lansdale Police Department at 215-368-1801, or their local police.